News Broadcasting
Space TV inches closer to climax?
MUMBAI: Ministry of company affairs has rejected most of the contentions of the information and broadcasting ministry relating to Space TV application, while upholding a clause on affirmative rights (to say `yes’ or `no’ to a board decision) of the minority shareholder.
In its comment sent to the I&B ministry (reference: File 3/20/2005/CL-IInd), the company affairs ministry has said that except section 2, dealing with affirmative right of the minority shareholder, other issues raised by I&B don’t cut much ice.
With this, government sources pointed out, the ministry of consumer affairs has submitted its comments on one of the DTH applications, while it grapples with that of Sun TV’s, which too has come under government scanner.
Interestingly, various issues raised by the I&B ministry relating to Space TV and Sun ‘s DTH applications were not brought up when pubcaster Doordarshan started its DTH service.
Technically speaking, some of the DTH guidelines clauses should have brought DD Direct Plus too under a cloud.
Meanwhile, the ministry of company affairs does agree that the clause relating to the affirmative rights of Star Group — having almost a veto power regarding board decisions of Space TV — could be questioned.
According to Indian laws, a shareholder needs to have at least 26 per cent holding in a joint venture to have veto rights on board decisions. The affirmative rights clause in the Space TV shareholders’ agreement is similar to this clause wherein the minority shareholder has the right to accept or refuse board
decision with 20 per cent stake only.
Space TV, envisaging putting up a Rs. 16 billion DTH project in India, is a 80:20 joint venture between the Tatas and the Rupert Murdoch-controlled Star Group.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
